Of this journey Governor Cumming says:—
"I left camp on the 5th, en route for this city, accompanied by Col. Kane, as guide, and two servants. . . . I was escorted from Bear River Valley to the western end of Echo Canyon,—the journey through the canyon being performed, for the most part, in the night; it was about eleven o'clock when I arrived at Weber Station.
"I have been everywhere recognized as the Governor of Utah, and, so far from having encountered insults and indignities, I am gratified in being able to state that, in passing through the settlements, I have been universally greeted with such respectful attentions as are due to the representative of the executive authority of the United States. . . .
"When it was arranged with the Mormon officer in command of my escort that I should pass through Echo Canyon in the night, I inferred that it was with the object of concealing the barricades and other defences. I was therefore agreeably surprised by an illumination in honor to me. The bonfires kindled by the soldiers, from the base to the summit of the hills, completely illuminated the valley, and disclosed the snow-covered mountains which surrounded us."
The following is the Mormon account of the entrée of Governor Cumming into the Valley of Salt Lake, and may go to explain to him why the journey was made through Echo Canyon in the night.
Upon entering the Mormon lines they were rejoined by Rockwell and Kimball, who commanded the Governor's escort to Salt Lake City. Echo Canyon is a narrow pass, about eighteen miles in length, and commands the entrance
to Salt Lake Valley from the east. The Mormons had fortified this canyon at several points. They also had four camps, or places of rendezvous, at convenient distances. Upon arriving at Cache Cave, the first "post," the party of the Governor came to a halt. His Excellency was escorted into camp with due honor, and an ox was slain to celebrate the occasion. After partaking of a sumptuous repast, the troops were ordered out for the Governor to review. About 150 men were "drawn up," and after the review, the Governor "made a speech." He complimented "the boys" on their order, discipline, and skill.
Col. Kimball then proceeded to read various orders to the troops. Various imaginary companies were ordered to relieve various other imaginary companies. Several new posts were ordered to be established, and others abandoned. Meanwhile, the Governor, not to be deceived, was noting down the different companies as they were called. This done, they again took the road. It was now about sundown; and as they passed the stations, the troops were arranged on each side of the road, to salute the Governor, and be reviewed by him. Everything passed off smoothly until they reached the third station, when it suddenly occurred to Col. Kimball that the pickets at that post had not been apprised of their coming. He remarked, on nearing the camp, that "he saw no pickets, and he guessed the boys were in ambush." He therefore mounted a horse, and telling the driver to be sure and "halt" as soon as he heard the word, rode off. In a moment more, the guard shouted, "Halt! who goes there?"—and before a reply could be given, the crack of a rifle was heard. The Governor, trembling with fright, cried out, "I am your friend, the Governor of Utah; don't fire, boys; for God's sake, don't fire!" "I know nothing about Governors, nor anybody else," replied the picket; "I must do my duty. This way, Sergeant of the Guard." By this time quite a company rode up, and, as the Governor supposed, he was about to be taken prisoner. Col. Kimball now appeared, explained
the whole matter, and relieved his Excellency from his embarrassing position. But the Governor was entirely innocent of the joke, and believes, to this day, that he had a hair-breadth escape.
They then passed on to the mouth of Echo Canyon, where the troops were again reviewed; and as the party bivouacked for the night, hundreds of camp-fires gleamed along the rugged sides of the canyon, furnishing incontestable evidence of the great number of the Mormon soldiers. There were at this time about 150 men, all told, in the canyon, and these the Governor had reviewed at every station.